Today I watched a very interesting movie... Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead...
It was eye opening to see this man who was severely overweight make a decision. He didn't make a resolution, or think about what he wished he could have. He make a decision to revolutionize his life. Wanna know what he did?
He juiced. For 60 days.
In his story he lost weight, and motivated other people to do the same.
Now, I'm not saying you need to go out and juice for 60 days, or even 6 days, if that choice isn't for you. What I am saying is that permanent results come with permanent change. That may just mean you can never eat another hot dog or sugar cookie again.
Are you ready for a revolution, or are you content with your weak resolutions year after year...?
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, February 21, 2010
God and Food
Food is one of the closest ways that we can be in tune with God. Now, I don't know your personal belief system. If you believe in God, Allah, Mother Nature... it doesn't matter. Whatever your higher power is, food can bring you closer to your God. When you stop looking at counting calories and view food as it was intended to be viewed, then there is almost something spiritual that happens when you prepare and eat your foods close with nature. A Twinkie will not bring you spiritual enlightenment.
This idea really did not dawn on me until I was finishing up the book The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. The book actually began because Pollan was determined to eat the perfect meal, by this meaning foods from the 3 kingdoms (plant, fungi, and animal) and to grow, gather, and hunt all this himself. By the end of the book, you feel that there has been such a wealth of information given to you, you forget about his original quest until you reach the last chapter.
Pollan recognizes that by eating the foods he, and his friends, had been so involved in (including hunting his own wild boar), by each step of growing, gathering, or hunting, and then the cleaning and preparing, and finally eating the food there is a sort of homage given to the foods used to nourish not only body, but soul.
Expanding on this thought of Pollan's, I cannot help myself but think about the Native American Indians that once inhabited much of the land we know occupy. In third grade class, we learned about these people who actually used all of the animal they killed for meat, tools, clothing, and yes, even toys. This almost seemed like a foreign notion to me at the time. Now, we have found a way to utilize every part of the animal, but unfortunately it is in the form of feed for the animals being raised for our consumption in a few weeks. Whatever doesn't make it into the feed might make it into your next hot dog (ewww...)...
I'm not trying to turn your stomach to the thought of eating meat. On the contrary, I want you to be encouraged to add meat to your eating as a condiment to your other plant foods. However, open your eyes to the meat you are buying, and encourage you to be aware of everything you eat. Pay homage to the bovine who gave his happy, pastured life to your hamburger. Think about the gatherers out collecting the wild fungi so you may eat a mushroom. Give a silent moment for the trek of germination of seed to tomato. As you prepare and eat the foods given to us by the earth, let it bring you to a higher level of enlightennment.
This idea really did not dawn on me until I was finishing up the book The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. The book actually began because Pollan was determined to eat the perfect meal, by this meaning foods from the 3 kingdoms (plant, fungi, and animal) and to grow, gather, and hunt all this himself. By the end of the book, you feel that there has been such a wealth of information given to you, you forget about his original quest until you reach the last chapter.
Pollan recognizes that by eating the foods he, and his friends, had been so involved in (including hunting his own wild boar), by each step of growing, gathering, or hunting, and then the cleaning and preparing, and finally eating the food there is a sort of homage given to the foods used to nourish not only body, but soul.
Expanding on this thought of Pollan's, I cannot help myself but think about the Native American Indians that once inhabited much of the land we know occupy. In third grade class, we learned about these people who actually used all of the animal they killed for meat, tools, clothing, and yes, even toys. This almost seemed like a foreign notion to me at the time. Now, we have found a way to utilize every part of the animal, but unfortunately it is in the form of feed for the animals being raised for our consumption in a few weeks. Whatever doesn't make it into the feed might make it into your next hot dog (ewww...)...
I'm not trying to turn your stomach to the thought of eating meat. On the contrary, I want you to be encouraged to add meat to your eating as a condiment to your other plant foods. However, open your eyes to the meat you are buying, and encourage you to be aware of everything you eat. Pay homage to the bovine who gave his happy, pastured life to your hamburger. Think about the gatherers out collecting the wild fungi so you may eat a mushroom. Give a silent moment for the trek of germination of seed to tomato. As you prepare and eat the foods given to us by the earth, let it bring you to a higher level of enlightennment.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
We are taking a trip!
In about a month we are going to be going on a road trip up to Chicago. I am so excited! Growing up we used to drive to all our vacation destinations. Airplanes were just something we didn't do, I'm sure because of the price. But a road trip is so much fun...
I remember bringing my Gameboy, and if my brother was coming, that just meant more games for me! Books, lots of books, and anything to color or puzzle books. We would stop at the gas stations, which were more like truck stops, and be amazed at the different things we would find from state souvenirs to full on showers in the bathrooms.
Oh...and there was the snack food.
The Slim Jims. The Twinkies. The bags of potato chips. The bottles of soda. It all seemed ok because we were doing something different. Every trip we would always make it a point to stop at a Cracker Barrel along the way.
Gone are the days. Brayden's memory of this road trip will be carrots, bananas, and a variety of other colors. See, just because we are in a different environment for 26 hours, that does not give us the right to abuse our bodies. It is, in fact, the time we should be taking most care of them, seeing how we are not able to get any movement to exercise our muscles. Whenever it is time to fill up the gas tank, doing some small yoga stretches will help to prevent too much body abuse.
Take these small travel tips and BON VOYAGE!
In about a month we are going to be going on a road trip up to Chicago. I am so excited! Growing up we used to drive to all our vacation destinations. Airplanes were just something we didn't do, I'm sure because of the price. But a road trip is so much fun...
I remember bringing my Gameboy, and if my brother was coming, that just meant more games for me! Books, lots of books, and anything to color or puzzle books. We would stop at the gas stations, which were more like truck stops, and be amazed at the different things we would find from state souvenirs to full on showers in the bathrooms.
Oh...and there was the snack food.
The Slim Jims. The Twinkies. The bags of potato chips. The bottles of soda. It all seemed ok because we were doing something different. Every trip we would always make it a point to stop at a Cracker Barrel along the way.
Gone are the days. Brayden's memory of this road trip will be carrots, bananas, and a variety of other colors. See, just because we are in a different environment for 26 hours, that does not give us the right to abuse our bodies. It is, in fact, the time we should be taking most care of them, seeing how we are not able to get any movement to exercise our muscles. Whenever it is time to fill up the gas tank, doing some small yoga stretches will help to prevent too much body abuse.
Take these small travel tips and BON VOYAGE!
Monday, June 29, 2009
I promise I'm eating right!!!!
So, this has not been such a great week for me. Ironically enough I have been eating right and well. My desire for sweets has actually been less then normal, and I've been enjoying plenty of colors.
Unfortunately, I have developed a small tummy stickin' out this week. Bob thinks it's because I couldn't resist the temptation of the biscuit... I don't think I can remember what they taste like anymore... So, Why? Why I ask? I have been eating well...
Oh. Yeah. The other part of that... Exercise... :(
That has been missing from my week. I'll be honest. On my days off I didn't want to do anything but lay on the couch. I've been dragging myself to work. I've just wanted to veg... So I have come to the conclusion that I have thought for about 6 months: I must exercise.
We all need to exercise. To be mobile and to be active is just apart of what makes up our being. But I am talking about a different level: a compelling must that without it I will become 300lbs eating endless shrimp for 3 hours... YUCK!
When I exercise regularly my body stays in shape, my energy is higher, and my moods are balanced. While I think Bob likes to push my buttons sometimes, (that's part of the fun of being married, right?) when I don't exercise, it is definitely easier for those buttons to pop off! So, tomorrow is a new day! I will find even 10 minutes to lift up my pink kettlebell, and by the end of the week, I'll be back up to my blue one... I'll keep you posted!
Unfortunately, I have developed a small tummy stickin' out this week. Bob thinks it's because I couldn't resist the temptation of the biscuit... I don't think I can remember what they taste like anymore... So, Why? Why I ask? I have been eating well...
Oh. Yeah. The other part of that... Exercise... :(
That has been missing from my week. I'll be honest. On my days off I didn't want to do anything but lay on the couch. I've been dragging myself to work. I've just wanted to veg... So I have come to the conclusion that I have thought for about 6 months: I must exercise.
We all need to exercise. To be mobile and to be active is just apart of what makes up our being. But I am talking about a different level: a compelling must that without it I will become 300lbs eating endless shrimp for 3 hours... YUCK!
When I exercise regularly my body stays in shape, my energy is higher, and my moods are balanced. While I think Bob likes to push my buttons sometimes, (that's part of the fun of being married, right?) when I don't exercise, it is definitely easier for those buttons to pop off! So, tomorrow is a new day! I will find even 10 minutes to lift up my pink kettlebell, and by the end of the week, I'll be back up to my blue one... I'll keep you posted!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Bupkis!
So I have been trying to think of something inspiring to write in my blog for about a week. What did I come up with? Bupkis!
Life has many inspiring and defining moments for us. When you meet your first love, you are inspired to love freely and walk on air. When you have your first child you feel like you can take on the world to protect them from harsh reality. When you have your first bad medical report, you are inspired to a way of health and fitness. The reality is that while these, and many other, inspiring moments are wonderful, they fade. We cannot live a life completely full of inspiring moments, otherwise they would no longer be inspiring, would they?
So I suppose my inspiring thought for today is to live life consistently when you are not inspired. Sometimes you will not have a new recipe to try, so you will need to make something that you have already had hundreds of times before. Sometimes your workout will seem kind of boring, but you know you need to push through it. And I am sure that we have all had days when we certainly did not feel inspired to go to work, but we do it anyway because of our obligation.
I'm not into the business of lying to you all. I have a difficult time with consistency. One day, I'm detailing cleaning the house, the next I have dishes piled up in the sink. Sometimes I feel I could snatch the 16kg kettlebell, and sometimes I feel like the 4kg would be much better. Pushing through to what I know I can do, rather then what I feel I can do, is the key to living through our uninspired moments. Then the inspiring moments will come, and you will love them more when they do!
Life has many inspiring and defining moments for us. When you meet your first love, you are inspired to love freely and walk on air. When you have your first child you feel like you can take on the world to protect them from harsh reality. When you have your first bad medical report, you are inspired to a way of health and fitness. The reality is that while these, and many other, inspiring moments are wonderful, they fade. We cannot live a life completely full of inspiring moments, otherwise they would no longer be inspiring, would they?
So I suppose my inspiring thought for today is to live life consistently when you are not inspired. Sometimes you will not have a new recipe to try, so you will need to make something that you have already had hundreds of times before. Sometimes your workout will seem kind of boring, but you know you need to push through it. And I am sure that we have all had days when we certainly did not feel inspired to go to work, but we do it anyway because of our obligation.
I'm not into the business of lying to you all. I have a difficult time with consistency. One day, I'm detailing cleaning the house, the next I have dishes piled up in the sink. Sometimes I feel I could snatch the 16kg kettlebell, and sometimes I feel like the 4kg would be much better. Pushing through to what I know I can do, rather then what I feel I can do, is the key to living through our uninspired moments. Then the inspiring moments will come, and you will love them more when they do!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Infamous Plateau
It happens to the best of us. We start to workout. Hit up the treadmill. Pump some iron. Throw around some kettlebells. We cut our calorie intake. We cut out the drive-thrus. Add some lemon to the gallons of water we drink. And it happens... WE LOSE WEIGHT!!! WOOHOO! We shed amazing pounds of fat, tone up, and have a ton more energy. We keep going at it, thinking we will maintain our newfound health and, dare I say it, continue to tone up. The goal in your mind is to become the model on the fitness magazines that line up by the treadmill section of your local gym.
CRASH! You didn't see that coming, did you? All of a sudden you don't feel as energized. The fat is not shedding as quickly. Your 2 tickets to the gun show are no better then your muscles when you were 4 years old. This is when some people think "I've been working so hard. What's going on?" And sometimes, yes it does happen, they give up. As sad as that sounds.
I hit one of these plateaus. I was using the 8kg kettlebell for awhile. I teetered on moving up in weight, but really wanted to make sure my form was good, and I could last, and blah blah blah... They were all excuses. Lies I was telling myself to make myself feel better. Last week, Bob told me that I should start only using the 12kg. He has recently has moved from a 20kg to the 24kg. He makes himself only use the 24kg because he knows he needs to push himself if he ever wants to get stronger. And now he was encouraging me to do the same.
So, this week, it's been me and the 12kg. And I feel like I'm off my plateau. Now...PLEASE understand that sometimes one may hit a plateau because of overtraining. This does not mean you should not be active everyday, but what it does mean is that you should take your days of "rest" and still be active. Go swim, play a game of catch, go for a light jog or a brisk walk... do something. And on your workout days, go hard!
Don't let the lies win! Keep trying to beat yourself, and you will be surprised with what you can accomplish!
CRASH! You didn't see that coming, did you? All of a sudden you don't feel as energized. The fat is not shedding as quickly. Your 2 tickets to the gun show are no better then your muscles when you were 4 years old. This is when some people think "I've been working so hard. What's going on?" And sometimes, yes it does happen, they give up. As sad as that sounds.
I hit one of these plateaus. I was using the 8kg kettlebell for awhile. I teetered on moving up in weight, but really wanted to make sure my form was good, and I could last, and blah blah blah... They were all excuses. Lies I was telling myself to make myself feel better. Last week, Bob told me that I should start only using the 12kg. He has recently has moved from a 20kg to the 24kg. He makes himself only use the 24kg because he knows he needs to push himself if he ever wants to get stronger. And now he was encouraging me to do the same.
So, this week, it's been me and the 12kg. And I feel like I'm off my plateau. Now...PLEASE understand that sometimes one may hit a plateau because of overtraining. This does not mean you should not be active everyday, but what it does mean is that you should take your days of "rest" and still be active. Go swim, play a game of catch, go for a light jog or a brisk walk... do something. And on your workout days, go hard!
Don't let the lies win! Keep trying to beat yourself, and you will be surprised with what you can accomplish!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Cravings
Some say that cravings are struggles that one needs to "get" through to become stronger. Some say that cravings are our body's way of telling us we need to eat that or else! Some simply don't pay attention to what their bodies are telling them and they just eat whatever they feel like. That is probably the majority of people in existence.
I am of the thought that our bodies do tell us what we should be eating, but not necessarily in specific food form. About once a month (yes we can say it... a little before that time of the month) I get a strong craving. No it is NOT chocolate! Ha! It's for beef! I want some steak. Beef is higher in iron. My body is already naturally low in iron, so when it's time, my body is gearing up and wanting more iron. So, what I do is try to eat some other iron rich foods, like spinach, so I can build that up. Occasionally I'll do the beef as long as it is organic and grass fed...you are what you eat, but you are what you eat eats too!
So, next time that your body is telling you to eat something that you feel you need to resist (like chocolate or ice cream) maybe find a way to indulge in the actual thing you need, like a big glass of full fat raw milk and a 80%+ chocolate bar. This will satisfy your craving and give your body what it is telling you it needs!
I am of the thought that our bodies do tell us what we should be eating, but not necessarily in specific food form. About once a month (yes we can say it... a little before that time of the month) I get a strong craving. No it is NOT chocolate! Ha! It's for beef! I want some steak. Beef is higher in iron. My body is already naturally low in iron, so when it's time, my body is gearing up and wanting more iron. So, what I do is try to eat some other iron rich foods, like spinach, so I can build that up. Occasionally I'll do the beef as long as it is organic and grass fed...you are what you eat, but you are what you eat eats too!
So, next time that your body is telling you to eat something that you feel you need to resist (like chocolate or ice cream) maybe find a way to indulge in the actual thing you need, like a big glass of full fat raw milk and a 80%+ chocolate bar. This will satisfy your craving and give your body what it is telling you it needs!
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